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Pretty Good

Overrated and overhyped

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

A totally transparent, asinine analogy is forced down our throats here between South Africa's racist apartheid regime and Bush's government.A totally transparent - and even more despicable - analogy is being made between the "noble" ANC terrorists and Islamic terrorists. Basically, terrorism is justified here by the liberal propaganda machine - yet again. Worse yet, the terrorists (the poor dears) are allegedly FORCED into it, i.e. they didn't have a choice in the matter. This of course fits in neatly with Marx's idiotic notion that man is inherently good/perfect hence does evil only when coerced into it (by evil capitalist forces, preferably).So killing civilians randomly in the streets is okay, says Tim, Tinseltown's self-absorbed, hilariously deluded, barely literate "intellectual".The film provides absolutely zero criticism of the fact that the ANC is, was and always will be a Marxist, un-democratic movement (they've been in power for over 20 years now!). Also avoided is the obvious hot issue of the day: the constant slide into economic disaster the country has been going through ever since Mandela's "freedom-fighters" won control over the country. And I mean all of the control. It's a dictatorship.But did anyone truly expect an intelligent, unbiased, realistic portrayal of the freeing of S.A.'s black people from a movie which Tim Robbins agreed to star in? Tim is a talentless nepotist (the son of a famous country singer) whose only path towards Tinseltown glory was by putting on the U2 Bono Cap Of Self-Righteousness and a phony Michael Stipe World Humanitarian Scarf.

I thought story was very entertaining and seemed accurate (I wasn't there) but I disagreed with former comment that Tim Robbins wasn't (or whites in general) racist. The fact that blacks were routinely and deliberately treated as virtually "sub-human" would seem to indicate that the culture in general was RACIST. Adolph Ikeman espoused he was doing "his job" - he wasn't anti Semitic, they just happened to be Jewish!?! Anyway, it is a very good film and the cinematography was excellent - way to go Ron F. I thought the main characters were given their own flaws, just as real people are not all good or bad, and therefore influenced their actions and consequences to themselves & others.

A powerful story well told in skillful hands. Philip Noyce, of Rabbitproof Fence fame, once again takes a story of oppression and just tells the story, without apportioning blame or taking sides. The script is marvellous and the acting uniformly good. Tim Robbins and Derek Lucas both affecting near-flawless South African accents, take the male leads and put in outstanding roles. Tim Robbins as the Afrikaner cop is a character difficult to understand, at one point he takes his prisoner home for Sunday dinner with his family and in another scene oversees the beating-up and torture of innocent people. Derek Lucas is equally good as a man who's only interest lies with his family and job before being arrested and ultimately backed into a course of action that he could not have foreseen. Michelle Botes and Bonnie Mbuli are both excellent South African actresses who play the respective wives, Bonnie Mbuli in particular putting in a very affecting role as the wife who stands by helplessly as her husband spirals into a new life which does not include her or her children. H

Catch a Fire This movie was released in 2006. But commercially it did not do well, and that it why there were no distributors for Europe market. At last we got to see this movie after nearly a year in the box.This movie is a true story of Patrick Chamusso during (1980-90s) South Africa's fight against apartheid regimes. Derek Luke plays Patrick and Bonnie Mbuli plays his wife; whereas Tim Robbins plays Colonel Nic Vos who represents the monstrous evil of white rule.This movie depicted a making of a terrorist. Especially in today's world of globalization where Multi-nationals companies are spreading their wings to acquire meager resources of indigenous people this movie becomes very relevant for all to see. There are more than 16 regions within India where terrorist insurgency and naxal movements are flourishing to fight the evil of state government.The director Philip Noyce (Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games) has always made political statements and movies that show the ugly side of white supremacy. He has been hated by many for showing it throughout his career.A special mention should be made of cinematographer Ron Fortunato and Garry Phillips for beautifully capturing the beauty of South Africa. There is no background musical score in the movie but the Sound Department team has mixed the African folk songs and dance as integrated part of the narrative.Derek and Bonnie - look a perfect pair and both are very good looking. Derek matches his previous award winning performance of Antwone Fisher; he chooses true story characters for his roles and excels in them. Tim Robbin plays the Colonel (he has this next door looking guy) – but gives cold shivers with his controlled performance.The beautiful close-up shots depict every emotion of the characters and I was in the movie since its beginning. There are a few slack holes in the script and even though the movie is very good – one feels that something is missing.All in all a sensitive movie to see for everyone; especially all white communities – who invaded different nations and ruled them as their own land. I end with a quote from the movie - What will your children say about you? (Stars 7.75 out of 10)